Guptill shines for Aces

He might not be playing for the Black Caps but Martin Guptill’s golden summer is continuing.

The Black Caps ODI opener has chalked up another century, this time for the table-topping Auckland Aces on the opening day of their Plunket Shield match against Northern Districts yesterday.

Fresh from back-to-back centuries in the ODI series against Bangladesh and an earlier hundred against India, Guptill hammered the Northern bowlers to all corners of Cobham Oval to help put the Aces in control.

Guptill, who opened the scored 120 from just 143 balls.

Auckland, who won the toss and decided to bat, reached 301-5 at stumps.

Central Districts run-scoring machine Greg Hay combined with George Worker to put on 202 for the first wicket against the Otago Volts in Napier.

Worker was eventually dismissed for 110.

Black Caps test squad member Will Young joined Hay and the pair have, so far, produced an unbeaten 155 run partnership to help the Stags, who won the toss and elected to bat, through to 357-1 at stumps.

In Christchurch, an unbeaten Cole innings, McConchie century has been the backbone of Canterbury’s innings after the Wellington Firebirds won the toss and inserted the home side.

Former Canterbury bowlers Hamish Bennett and Logan van Beek both grabbed an early wicket to have their former side struggling at 5-1 and then 46-2.

A 65-run partnership for the third wicket between McConchie and Stephen Murdoch put Canterbury back in the game before Murdoch, a former Firebirds batsman, became Bennett’s second victim when he was caught by van Beek at point for 60.

Leo Carter was quickly dismissed for three which brought Cam Fletcher to the wicket and he combined with McConchie for a 152-run partnership to give the home side first-day honours.

Auckland Aces 301-5 (Martin Guptill 120, Sean Solia 75; Ish Sodhi 3-82, Scott Kuggeleijn 2-51) v Northern Districts.

At Cobham Oval, Whangarei:

At McLean Park, Napier:

Central Districts 357-1 (Greg Hay 145no, George Worker 110, Will Young 92no; Matthew Bacon 1-69) v Otago.

At Hagley Oval, Christchurch:

Canterbury 314-6 (Cole McConchie 152no, Cam Fletcher 64, Stephen Murdoch 60; Hamish Bennett 4-57) v Wellington.